The Up & Coming Amaro Producers to Know: Italia
Although not in the top selling amaro brands, these amaros carry their own weight with their respective flavor profiles for cocktails, or standing alone.
If you’re aware of Amaro, then you most likely have tasted some of the top producers that have led the way for the category. Here we list some of the producers that we love and think deserve a little bit more attention.
Foro Amaro - This definitely has received some much deserved attention, however we still aren’t seeing it on too many back bars. It’s dark brown and on a bitter sweet level we find it right in the middle. We get a ton of cocoa nib and burnt sugar, which could make a killer Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Amaro Dell’Etna - One of the first Amaro’s we really dove into, Amaro dell’Etna is starting to get noticed by many. Dell’Etna truly embodies what Sicilian Amaro should taste like, reigining from the active vulcano of Mt. Etna. High end altitude of mountain herbs this is a southern mountain amaro with bitter orange, dried herbs and true to it’s smoky terroir. The color almost has this unfiltered color to it and is a great amaro to try if you’re looking for something new.
Amaro Meletti - This was the first amaro I ever drank, and it still is at the top of my list. It’s amazing that it has the price point it does, especially with the quality of the product. In fact, the owner has regretted releasing it at the price point it did for the market. However this is a great intro Amaro, and should be a house amaro for all Italian establishments. Hailing from Marche, this Amaro has a ton of saffron which is the most prolific flavor note we get.
Paolucci Ciociaro Amaro - Another friendly priced market amaro, Ciociaro has a cola soda palate, along with tobacco, toffee & cloves. It definitely is a cocktail amaro that has sweetness in the front with a nice dry finish on the back end. From the Abruzzo region, this has been in production since 1873.
Rossa Amara Amaro - A truly unique amaro, this is one where amaro drinkers can taste and not believe how good it is. Definitely the sweetest amaro we’ve tasted, this can and has been substituted for triple sec. Fun variations of margaritas have us dreaming of summer drinks. Sicily is known for its blood oranges, which is the main driver in this delicious sipping amaro.
Santa Maria Al Monte - Liguria has been really exciting to me lately, not only with their delicious wines and beautiful coastal towns perfect for vacations, They have also started bringing an Amaro to the America market that is down right baller. Its not overly sweetened like some Amaros can be, this is for an amaro drinker that is looking for an old reliable. We can’t stop mixing this with espresso, perfect for any coffee cocktail lover’s dream. This amaro is actually oak aged & originally created by monks. A ton of fresh bouquet of mint that’s been smacked around for a cocktail is extremely prevalent and more herbal then our citrus backed amari.
Enrico Toro Amaro - The second Abbruzesse amaro to make the list. Enrico Toro is a very balanced amaro, this doesn’t lean on either side too far sweet or too far bitter. It has cooked spices on the nose (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, coriander). Another unique quality is the glass vessel which mirrors a n old school maple syrup bottle.
